Vocabulary – Blood Types and Transfusions

TermDefinition
AgglutinationThe clumping of red blood cells caused by antibodies binding to antigens on their surface.
AllelesDifferent versions of a gene that determine traits, such as blood type (A, B, or O).
AntibodiesProteins produced by the immune system that bind to specific antigens to neutralize or mark them for destruction.
AntigensMolecules (often glycoproteins or glycolipids) on cell surfaces that trigger an immune response.
Codominant inheritanceA pattern of inheritance where both alleles are fully expressed, such as in Type AB blood.
Forward blood typingA test that identifies antigens on red blood cells using known antibodies (anti-A, anti-B).
Glycoproteins or glycolipidsMolecules on the surface of red blood cells that act as antigens and determine blood type.
Reverse blood typingA test that identifies antibodies in plasma using known red blood cells (A or B cells).
Rh factorA protein (antigen) on red blood cells; presence = Rh⁺, absence = Rh⁻.
Type A bloodBlood type with A antigens on RBCs and anti-B antibodies in plasma.
Type AB bloodBlood type with both A and B antigens on RBCs and no anti-A or anti-B antibodies.
Type B bloodBlood type with B antigens on RBCs and anti-A antibodies in plasma.
Type O bloodBlood type with no A or B antigens on RBCs and both anti-A and anti-B antibodies in plasma.